Butch James and Bismarck du Plessis will add muscle to the Sharks Super Rugby challenge against the Bulls in Durban.

Springboks James and Du Plessis have not played in this season’s competition. Du Plessis has not played in nearly nine months and James underwent a further knee operation two weeks before the start of this year’s Super Rugby.

The Sharks can’t afford to lose more ground on the tournament frontrunners and play an in-form Bulls team whose only defeats came during their Australasian tour.

James could be used at inside centre because of injury to Meyer Bosman. JP Pietersen is also doubtful because of a hamstring injury.

The good news for the Sharks is that Willem Alberts continued to improve in his second match back.

The Bulls have 46 league points and the Sharks are third in the South African conference with 33 points.